Portable sectional fence



D. n... COOPER 2,517,386

PORTABLE SECTIONAL FENCE Filed Nov. 7, 1946 D. L. fiuoper Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE SECTIONAL FENCE David L. Cooper, Battle Creek, Mich.

Application November 7, 1946, Serial No. 708,307 (01. 256-25) 7 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to enclosure apparatus, and in its specific phases to a sectional portable fence.

Fences in the past have either utilized driven posts at conventional spacings, or have been of the zig-zag type, such as old style rail fences which commonly have a block under each corner to hold them above ground, and which depend upon being held in that zig-zag relationship to anchor them against falling over. City dwellers frequently would like to have a small enclosure in their yard, sometimes at a fixed location for a small flower or vegetable garden, and at other times one which is readily movable for children or pets. While they might have a short piece of fencing on hand, they would seldom have fence posts, and still less often would they have a sledge hammer to drive the posts. Driven posts make the enclosure at least semi-permanent, and require a gate for ingress and egress from the fenced area, a thing which again is usually missing. It was a recognition of this problem which led to the conception and development of th present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a sectional portable fence which does not require driven posts.

Another object is to provide a relatively light weight sectional portable fence which may be readily separated at the end of any section to provide for ingress or egress, and to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the sections from each other.

Another object is to removably mount the adj acent ends of a pair of sections of the portable fence on suitable base plates having-stabilizing means, thus avoiding the necessity of driven posts.

A further object is to releasably anchor together the upper adjacent ends of a pair of sections with a removable link.

A further object is to provide a compact selfsupporting sectional portable fence which is relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture, and may be readily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools.

Still further objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means heerinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating,

however, but several of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawing;

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an assembly embodying a preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of a preferred form of the sectional fenceof thepresent invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view showing one typical manner of joining the upper end of two adjacent sections of the sectional fence.

Figure 4 shows a top view of three different shapes of base plates for the sectional fence.

Figure 5 shows a plain top link for fastening together the upper end of two sections of the present fence.

Figure 6 shows a top link which has a thumb screw for holding same relatively rigidly in place.

Figure 7 shows a typical form of wide support base plate. l

Figure 8 shows a modified form of base plate having upward projections adapted to fit into or around the lower end of the end members of the fence sections.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the assembly of the present invention utilizes sections I which have end members 2 and 3, and

cross tying members 4 and 5. For rigidity, low cost, and lightness of construction, the end members and cross tying members may be made of suitable size tubing, and welded together at their junction points. For some purposes, the sectional framework thus produced could be used alone for fencing. However, to make it more universal in application, some form of space closing device should be used with it. One of the most convenient for this purpose is woven wire 6 which may be of any conventional form, although a very satisfactory construction involves the use of lengthwise strands l and crosswise strands 8, all of which may be welded or otherwise fastened together. The ends of the lengthwise strands are preferably electric welded to end members 2 and 3, and if desired the crosswise strands may be electric. welded to cross ties 4 and 5.

When the portable fence sections are to be assembled to produce an anclosure, one form of which is shown in Figure 1, a base plate 9 with suitable openings I0 isused to receive and hold the lower ends of a pair of adjacent end members 2 and 3 of fence sections I. Openings Ill may pass completelythrough plate 9, or may be blind with the bottom closed or partially closed to prevent end members 2 and 3 from passing completely therethrough. The lower end of end members 2 and 3 may be full size, shouldered a short distance from the very bottom, or the like, to cooperate with holes it in base plate 9 under assembly conditions, and the showing is intended to diagrammatically illustrate the various equiv alent constructions of this type. While in Figure 1 the base plate ii is shown as rectangular with holes It] crosswise thereof, the invention is not limited to that specific construction but rather various designs of base plates may be used. Two other typical variations are shown in Figure 4 and these consists of a round plate 9a, and a diagonally located hole rectangular plate lib, while in Figure 'l a wide support base plate do is illustrated. This latter type of construction is especially suitable when a large pen or a relatively straight span of several sections of fence is to be utilized, and greater stability desired than is provided by relatively "small base plates 2.

Instead of using ground plates with holes as shown in Figures 4 and '7, the ground plate may be further modified specifically for use with'tubular end members as shown in Figure 8. Here the ground plate M is provided with upwardly projecting members [6 adapted to fit into the lower end of tubular end members 2 and 3. On the other hand members it may be tubular and a little larger than the end members so as to form sockets for the lower end of same. This latter construction is thus suitable for use with either tubular or solid end members.

The upper end of end members 2 and 3, if desired, may be left unfinished where cut off. However, where the end members are made of round tubing, and it is desired to not only dress them up but keep water from running through them during use in rainy weather, the upper end of the tubing may be threaded for the reception of a closing member, such as a cap H. Instead of threading the tubing, the cap maybe welded, brazed, riveted, provided with a set screw, or otherwise fastened to the end of the tubing.

In order to fasten the upper end of a pair of adjacent end members 2 and 3 together in forming an enclosure or the like out of the portable sections, a link l2 may be used. These links will be provided with a pair of openings it which, to facilitate assembly, are spaced apart approximately the same distance as openings it in base plate a used at the lower end of the end members 2 and 3. The size of openings It will depend largely upon the size of end members 2 and 3 and upon whether caps l l are used. Where caps are used the openings preferably would be large enough to permit the capped ends of at least one of the end members to pass therethrough. That type of construction facilitates ready assembly and disassembly as well as opening the assembly at the junction of a pair of sections for purposes of ingress or egress to the enclosed area. On the other hand it may be desired to have the fence less easily disassembled and in that case holes l3 may be just slightly larger than end members 2 and 3, and smaller than caps l I, so that the latter will have to be removed each time av pair'of sections are to be joined or disjoined. It is intended that the showing in the drawing be considered as diagrammatically illustrating these Various types of construction.

Instead of using a plain link I2 for fastening the upper end of a pair of fence sections together, it may be desired to clamp the'link in 3 place. A typical link l'2a of this construction is shown in Figure 6 wherein the link has an upwardly directed end M which is drilled and threaded for the reception of a thumb screw l5 adapted to be screwed into engagement with the upper end of one of the end members 2 or 3, or cap ii if same is used thereon. The tightening of the thumb screw when the fence sections are assembled in place, helps to stiffen the assembly, and prevents accidental removal of the link during use.

When four or more sections of the portable fence are put together, as typically illustrated in Figure 1 they provide an ideal small pen for a child, dog, lamb, or the like, and one which may be easily moved from place to place as required. While it is easy to assemble and disassemble a pen madefrom these sections, they are also easily handled and stored due to their lightness and compact construction. The fence sections may be made from rust proof material, and if not, same may be plated, tinned, or galvanized. However, for most purposes painting will suflice to improve the appearance of the fence and at the same time keep it from rusting.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the combinations herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A. portable fence section, said section having an upper and a lower crosstie member, a pair of substantially parallel and approximately equal length end members rigidly joined to the corresponding ends of said crosstie members, the upper ends of said end members projecting above said upper crosstie member while the lower ends of said end members project below said lower crosstie member, a short rigid link removably mounted on the upper end of one of said end members, the other end of said link being adapted to be joined to the upper end of an end member of another like portable fence section, a short removable stabilizing ground plate, and means on said ground plate spaced apart substantially the same distance as said joining means on said upper link for releasably joining and supporting the lower end of one of said end members and a like end member of another like portable fence section, whereby said fence sections may be connected and supported in line with each other or at various angles to each other, while said fence sections can be separated at will through said link and ground plate connections.

2. A fence, said fence comprising a multiplicity of portable sections, each section having a pair of substantially parallel. and approximately equal length end members joined together by means of upper and lower crosstie members spaced from the respective ends of said end members, a removable short rigid link for joining the upper ends of the adjacent end members of a pair of sections to be connected, and a short removable but relatively wide stabilizing ground plate fo; joining the lower ends of said adjacent end members, whereby said fence may be set up with said sections either in line or at various angles to each other, while said sections can be separated at will for disassembly or opening to provide a gateway.

3. In a fence as set forth in claim 2, wherein said link for fastening together the upper ends of the adjacent end members of a pair of sections 5, has a portion for rigidly but releasably locking same in place on the upper portion of at least one of said end members, whereby said fence is stiffened when said link is rigidly locked in place.

4.. In a fence as set forth i claim 2, wherein there is a removable cap on the upper end of each of said end members, said short rigid link being mounted on said end members above said upper crosstie member and below said cap, whereby said cap acts as a removable holding means for said link.

5. In a fence as set forth in claim 2, wherein said link for fastening together the upper ends of the adjacent end members of a pair of sections has a portion for rigidly but releasably locking same in place on the upper portion of at least one of said end members, and wherein there is a removable cap on the upper end of each of said end members, said short rigid link being mounted on said end members above said upper crosstie member and below said cap, whereby said fence is stiifened when said link is rigidly locked in place, and said cap acts as a removable holding means for said link.

6. In a fence as set forth in claim 2, wherein said ground plate has elongated sidewise extending arms, and releasable connecting portions for the lower ends of said end members at the adjacent ends of a pair of portable sections, whereby said fence is not only readily releasable and supported on said ground plate, but said elongated arms still further stabilize said fence under conditions of use.

7. In a fence as set forth in claim 2, wherein said link for fastening together the upper ends of the adjacent end members of a pair of sections has a portion for rigidly but releasably locking same in place on the upper portion of at least one of said end members, and wherein there is a removable cap on the upper end of each of said end members, said short rigid link being mounted on said end members above said upper crosstie member and below said cap, and further wherein said ground plate has elongated sidewise extending arms with releasable connecting portions for the lower ends of said end members at the adjacent ends of a pair of portable sections, whereby said fence is stiffened when said link is rigidly locked in place, said cap acts as a removable holding means for said link, and said elongated arms of said ground plate further stabilize said fence under conditions of use.

DAVID L. COOPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 60,357 Gerard Dec. 11, 1866 720,077 Simmons Feb. 10, 1903 1,127,493 Nagy Feb. 9, 1915 

